R.S.S. Moonstone

by Mr. David R Dorrycott

Chapter Six

It has this awful buzz

“I’m sorry sir, it just doesn’t sound right Captain” Lt. Marie Whikersham reported, standing at ease across from her commander. “It’s got a soft buzz. I think the castings flawed. I checked with Warheart, they haven’t a spare. They don’t even use the same model.”

“This is the new flow regulator right Marie? Damn. Goes to show Fryburg Mechanics can’t cast a good dog whistle, much less... Never mind. How long to yank it out and put a new one in?”

“That’s the point sir, we don’t have a new one. We do still have the old one. We never got a chance to unload any of the junk. It’s casing is fine, just one of its magnetic stage coils is fried. Our only real choice is to turn around and get a new one. It’ll take at least two weeks though. Time back to Stronghold, cool down then replacement time. For the record sir. Fryburg has the lowest failure rate of all our suppliers, and the broken one is a Hardegen make.”

Captain Harry Roberts didn’t even pause in his decision. They had been out of Stronghold Three less than ten hours when the problem had raised its ugly little head. “Returning is not an option Marie. Not for this mission. Look. Solid data. If it goes. Can you fix the old one, using parts from the new one?”

“Depends sir. I mean sir. If we wait until the flaw fractures it could ruin the whole unit. We’d be stuck in normal space until a freighter could bring a replacement unit. If we pull it just before it goes, Ka’s a wizard with fixing things. If anyone can make the change she can. I’ll help of course, but it’ll take days just to break it down. To our advantage, Ka doesn’t sleep when it’s important.”

“Ka, I don’t see her name except in duty reports.” Harry turned in his chair, watching through a porthole as the rainbow shimmers of Null Space washed over his ship’s magnetic shields. “She’s what, Endart?”

“eH dHar sir, yes sir. That rodent based race we stumbled over about the time I was born. Mouse actually. Calling her a rat is a low insult. She’s about the best jury-rigger you’ll find, maybe even better than myself within a few hundred light years. That woman even knows how to use a slide rule of all things.”

“If you vouch for her I’ll take your word she’s the best. All right. How long will this piece of junk last. Given I don’t push the engines any harder than I am right now.”

Marie checked her portable computer, tapping a few keys before finding the answer. Her face screwed up a bit. “We should arrive at our destination with no problem sir. I wouldn’t want to go more than a couple days longer in Null space though. It’s really hard to tie down, even now the flaw is beginning to fracture. Once we shut down the Null Drivers it’ll take at least a week to cool enough to work on. I think I can stabilize the flaw with some banding. But its just a band aid sir. It only delays the failure, not stops it.”

“That’s it then, do whatever it takes. As soon as it cools down you and Ka are assigned to make repairs. Use anyone else you need. Ion engines will be fine until we’re ready to leave. It’s not like we are going to be alone. Redemption is waiting for us. Meanwhile I’ll have com shoot off a drone to Stronghold. They’ll send a freighter out with a new unit, just in case you don’t get that junk fixed. Dismissed.”